The Difference of Two Cultures From the Same City

I grew up in the east end of Louisville.  It is predominately middle to upper class.  I went to private school from preschool through high school.  I wouldn’t say I  grew up totally sheltered because of this.  I attended a public university and a lot of friends I met through there and working retail, and I wasn’t too different than those who went to public school.   I currently teach at a title 1 school, whose population is far different from that which I grew up with.

I want to start by saying, I love my job, I enjoy where I teach and who I teach, these are just observations of the differences from where I grew up and where my students come from.

The other week I witnessed a huge culture shock.  My students were taking a values and work ethic survey.  I decided I would take it with them as well.  One of the questions asked if you would turn your brother in for committing a crime.  Most of my students answered “no”.  Then I asked what if he committed cold blooded murder, a few changed their mind, but the majority still said “no”.  I was and I am still shocked.  It is a testament to their beliefs of family first, no matter what.  I told them I would turn my brother (and if I have a son, him too) in a heart beat.  They were just as shocked at me as I was at them.

One of the biggest differences is something I noticed last year.  Where I went to school, if a girl got pregnant, she was vilified, seen as a slut, easy, what have you.  It was very embarrassing and nobody wanted it to happen to them.  To my students though, it is a status symbol; to be pregnant or have a kid is all the rage.  I’m not saying everyone wants to have a child or is trying to have one, but it seems as if it does happen, no biggie.  I remember one day telling my students who are mostly democratic/liberal that I was for abortion and I myself was vilified.  I guess I shouldn’t be so shocked given how many of them have or are expecting a child.  I do not know why there are so many with kids or pregnant.  I’m not sure if it is lack of proper sex education or if they just don’t care if they have a child.

There are two small things that I will never understand.  Firstly, on a girl’s birthday she will wear a pink ribbon and her friends will pin money to it.  The other is students getting spray painted shirts, hoodies and chains with the pictures of a friend or family member who has passed away.  One of my friends teaches at a similar school as mine and came from a similar background and a student passed away at his school.  Though he did not have or know the student, he attended the visitation.  He told me the teachers were the only ones who were dressed in traditional funeral home attire (slacks, nice shirt, blouse, etc).  All the students and family members were wearing a spray painted shirt with the child’s picture on it.  It is interesting to see how two different cultures memorialize their loved ones.

I love where I teach and I am always learning something new about my students.  I enjoy learning about others way of life and how it compares to mine.  It helps keep me centered and balanced to know that the way I do things is not the only right way for things to be done.

Are Some People Just Lucky and Unlucky?

Are some people just lucky and are others just unlucky?  We talk about luck, but most of us would brush it off to chance or the old saying “win some, lose some”, but what if some people almost always win while others almost always lose?

I feel like I am a very lucky person.  I’ve had a lot of bad possible situations or outcomes that seem to always work out for me.  When I’ve been pushed in my career, or had a sub-par observation, I’ve always reacted and been able to step my game up.  I was observed a few weeks ago.  I was asked what period I would like to be observed, and I said 3rd, but he actually showed up 2nd.  I was a little nervous as I wanted to teach the lesson once before the observation, but it went better the first time.

My basement decided to leak the other day after a week of countless rain, the day it started to leak I on a whim decided to change my cat’s litter box, and sure enough I was able to catch the water before it did any damage to my items.  I have seniors and at least once a month, sometimes more they are pulled for some testing, or meetings, etc where it gives me some extra planning time; being a second year teacher and already having a lot of seniors is lucky in its self.   My house hasn’t had any big issues, I never have car issues, etc.  I just seem to have a lot of good luck.

Now on the other hand I know other people who seem to be the opposite of me.  Can’t figure out a career, have all kinds of car problems, have a hard time getting into a program they want, roommates move out on them on a whim, don’t get a long with family, etc.  I see random facebook posts or hear about their bad luck and it seems to be a continuing story.  Why is this?

I was talking with this one girl a while back, and part of the reason I wasn’t interested is because it seemed like she didn’t have a lot going for her and some where her decisions, but I come to find out she is still having issues getting into a program she wants to get into.  She may not graduate college with a bachelors until 28 or 29 …I had my masters by 22, some of this is based on her life decisions, but it seems like it happens too much with her and others to be just a once in a while thing, it almost seems as if she and others are just unlucky.

So are some people lucky while others are unlucky?

Teaching in Year 2

I’m currently in my second year of teaching, and in most ways it is better.  I have a better feel for what is required from me to be a successful teacher at my school.  I am more on it, letting kids getting away with less and just overall haveing better structure.

I am far from great, but I’m doing a good job.  I hear good things from the students, well not good from their perspective, but good from a teacher’s perspective.   I hear things like “you’re not as cool as you use to be” or “you’re no longer my favorite teacher” or “you’ve gotten harder since last year”, etc.  They don’t like it, but if it was up to them, they’d burn the school down.  And I still have a good rapport with them.

My biggest obstacle so far this year is having 3 preps; this is my second trimester in a row with three preps and it can be draining.  At least this trimester I can say I have taught all three classes before.  One thing I continuously find myself doing is having too high of expectations.  I plan a lot and have some hard problems for them to solve.  At times that does backfire, but I am all about raising the bar and having high expectations.

Another hard thing is that I have a lot of students from last year and I had some bad habits last year that I have been battling with and so far seem to be winning at the moment.  I am continuing to work hard and I genuinely enjoy my job; it can be very hard at time, but it never deters me as I like my students and I enjoy being a positive role model for them even if we butt heads at times.

What Failure Does for Winners and Losers

“Failure defeats losers; failure inspires winners.”  – Robert T. Kiyosaki

I am a winner and I have been inspired.

 

Days Like These

So the last few days have been pretty bitter sweet.  Got some great news on how well my school did in terms of test scores last year.  The hard work we all put in paid off!

There have been some rough days and the 3 day weekend cannot get here soon enough.  Today was rough for a couple periods, but I had a student stay after and seek some advice about what’s going in their life.  That made my day.  It seems like any time I have a bad day, someone or something happens that makes me glad I teach.

Why Don’t Students Care About Grades?

I will never understand how there can be so many students who do not care about their grades or are more than happy to receive a D.

I’ve actually had kids ask me how they can earn a D in my class.  I know a lot of the students at my school have many issues outside of school, but school can be an escape, not to mention good grades and being low SES can equal big financial aid.

I try every day to get it through to them, and a couple I’ve had success in the two years at my school and I’ll keep trying everyday even if they don’t; all my students can say they have at least one adult in their life that does care about them and their grades.

Second Year Of Teaching

So far it is going really well.  I am doing much better than this time last year.  I have seen a lot of students grow over the last year.  There are still a couple kinks I’m working on.  But most days I love my job and my students.  It may wear me out, even after 8 hours of sleep, but I can’t picture myself doing anything else.

Start of year 2

Tomorrow will be my second year teaching.  I’m excited, nervous and sad.  I’m excited because I enjoy my job most days and there are students who I miss, that I cannot wait to see tomorrow.  I also am looking forward to a new start and improving as a teacher.

Nervous for a couple reasons; one, I have 3 different classes to prep for and two, the unknown of a new year.  For the most part my students are great, they can test me, but I’ve just been out of the routine.  There is a lot on my plate this year, but I don’t think my administration would have given it to me if they didn’t think I could handle it.  I also need to be a little tougher than last year which I think I will execute well, but still a little worried because it isn’t my personality, but it is all about how you see it.  I cannot be an enabler of students who want to fail.

I’m sad because well, having summer off is very nice.

I am mostly excited, I know this year is going to be better than last (which was mostly good).  I’m done with my internship program (KTIP) and I’ve taught a couple of the classes that I am teaching this year.  My staff and administration is awesome and they help pick me up when I stumble.